Get Involved In The Small Business Community

I just came across a press release that Dell is holding a competition to find the best small business that "has used technology to drive a significant change or develop a competitive advantage in delivering superior customer value and experience."

While the message could be simpler, Dell is doing a lot of things right here:

• Don't go it alone - Dell has partnered with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) to put on the competition and help promote it
  
  
• Give prizes - Aside from the recognition, the winner receives $30,000 in free Dell products and a lifetime membership to the NFIB. There are also prizes for the top 9 finalists
  
  
• Offer something unique - While the products and NFIB membership are good starters, the winner also gets to spend a day with Dell founder Michael Dell at the company's headquarters. What better experience could a small business owner ask for than to learn from one of the true entrepreneurial success stories of our time (see yesterday's post Teach Entrepreneurs What You Know).

Running contests and getting involved in the small business community is a great way to stand out, attract attention, and build a brand as a company that cares about entrepreneurs.